FAQ

Recovery techniques for contact DNA traces

Publication date: 03.2023

Archives of Forensic Medicine and Criminology, 2022, Vol. 72 (3), pp. 138 - 146

https://doi.org/10.4467/16891716AMSIK.22.016.17394

Authors

Agnieszka Gołaszewska
Medical University of Białystok
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1100-9188 Orcid
All publications →

Titles

Recovery techniques for contact DNA traces

Abstract

Donor DNA profiling can serve at least two purposes: 1) to enhance the evidential value of DNA deposited on garments/ items and 2) to provide valuable tactical information during crime scene investigation. In this review, different types of methods for the recovery of the contact DNA traces have been summarized. Additionally, with the available techniques, the unique characteristics and limitations thereof have been overviewed. The aim of this paper is to review the techniques of touch traces collection.

References

Download references

Wickenheiser RA. Trace DNA: a review, discussion of theory, and application of the transfer of trace quantities of DNA through skin contact. J. Forensic Sci. 2002; 47: 442–450.

Raven PH, Johnson GB. Biology. Times Mirror/Mosby College Publishing, St.Louis 1986, 1148.

Darnell JE, Lodish HF, Baltimore D. Cell biology. Scientific American; New York 1986, 137.

Jansson L, Swensson M, Gifvars E, Hedell R, Forsberg C, Ansell R, Hedman J. Individual shedder status and the origin of touch DNA. Forensic Sci Int Genet. 2022 Jan; 56: 102626.

Farmen RK, Jagho R, Cortez P, Froyland ES. Assessment of individual shedder status and implication for secondary DNA transfer. Forensic Sci Int Genet. 2008; 1: 415–417.

Lowe A, Murray C, Whitaker J, Tully G, Gill P. The propensity of individuals to deposit DNA and secondary transfer of low level DNA from individuals to inert surfaces. Forensic Sci Int. 2002; 129: 25–34.

Goray M, Fowler S, Szkuta B, Van Oorschot RAH. Shedder status –An analysis of self and non-self DNA in multiple handprints deposited by the same individuals over time. Forensic Sci Int Genet. 2016; 23: 190–196.

Szkuta B, Ballantyne KN, Van Oorschot RAH. Transfer and persistence of DNA on the hands and the influence of activities performed. Forensic Sci Int Genet. 2017; 28: 10–20.

Tan J, Lee J, Lee L, Aw Z, Chew M, Ishak N, Lee Y, Mugni M, Syn C. Shedder status: does it really exist? Forensic Sci Int Genet Suppl Ser 2019; 7(1): 360–362.

Kanokwongnuwut P, Martin B, Kirkbride KP, Linacre A. Shedding light on shedders. Forensic Sci Int Genet. 2018; 36: 20–25.

Daly DJ, Murphy C, McDermott SD. The transfer of touch DNA from hands to glass, fabric and wood. Forensic Sci Int Genet. 2012 Jan; 6(1): 41–46.

Fonnelop AE, Ramse M, Egeland T, Gill P. The implications of shedder status and background DNA on direct and secondary transfer in an attack scenario. Forensic Sci Int Genet. 2017; 29: 48–60.

Sessa F, Salerno M, Bertozzi G, Messina G, Ricci P, Ledda C, Rapisarda V, Cantatore S, Turillazzi E, Pomara C. Touch DNA: impact of handling time on touch deposit and evaluation of different recovery techniques: An experimental study. Sci Rep. 2019; 9: 9542.

Van den Berge M, Ozcanhan G, Zijlstra S, Lindenbergh A, Sijen T. Prevalence of human cell material: DNA and RNA profiling of public and private objects and after activity scenarios. Forensic Sci Int Genet. 2016; 21: 81–89.

Goray M, van Oorschot RAH. Shedder status: Exploring means of determination. Sci Justice. 2021 Jul; 61(4): 391–400.

Kamphausen T, Schadendorf D, von Wurmb-Schwark N, Bajanowski T, Poetsch M. Good shedder or bad shedder –the influence of skin diseases on forensic DNA analysis from epithelial abrasions. Int. J. Legal Med. 2012; 126 (1): 179–183.

Quinones I, Daniel B. Cell free DNA as a component of forensic evidence recovered from touched surfaces. Forensic Sci Int Genet. 2012; 6(1): 26–30.

Burrill J, Daniel B, Frascione N. A Review of Trace “Touch DNA”Deposits: Variability Factors and an Exploration of Cellular Composition. Forensic Sci. Int. Genet. 2019; 39: 8–18.

Wood I, Park S, Tooke J, Smith O, Morgan RM, Meakin GE. Efficiencies of Recovery and Extraction of Trace DNA from Non-Porous Surfaces. Forensic Sci. Int. Genet. Suppl. Ser. 2017; 6: e153–e155.

van Oorschot RAH, Szkuta B, Meakin GE, Kokshoorn B, Goray M. DNA transfer in forensic science: A review. Forensic Sci. Int. Genet. 2019 Jan; 38: 140–166.

Van Oorschot RAH, Phelan DG, Furlong S, Scarfo GM, Holding NL, Cummins MJ. Are you collecting all the available DNA from touched objects? Int Congress Ser. 2003; 1239: 803–807.

Phipps M, Petricevic S. The tendency of individuals to transfer DNA to handled items. Forensic Sci Int. 2007; 168(2–3): 162–168.

Gosch A, Courts C. On DNA Transfer: The Lack and Difficulty of Systematic Research and How to Do It Better. Forensic Sci. Int. Genet. 2019; 40: 24–36.

Zuidberg M, Bettman M, Aarts B Sjerps M, Kokshoorn B. Targeting relevant sampling areas for human biological traces: Where to sample displaced bodies for offender DNA? Sci Justice 2019; 59(2): 153–161.

Verdon TJ, Mitchell RJ, Van Oorschot RAH. Swabs as DNA Collection Devices for Sampling Different Biological Materials from Different Substrates. J. Forensic Sci. 2014; 59(4): 1080-1089.

Locard E. The analysis of dust traces. Part I. Am J Pol Sci. 1930; 1: 276–298.

Castella V, Mangin P. DNA profiling success and relevance of 1739 contact stains from caseworks. Forensic Sci Int Genet. Supplement Series 2008; 1(1): 405–407.

Zasada AA, Zacharczuk K, Woźnica K, Głowka M, Ziołkowski R, Malinowska E. The influence of a swab type on the results of point-of-care tests. AMB Expr 2020; 10, 46.

Sweet D, Lorente M, Lorente JA, Valenzuela A, Villanueva E. An improved method to recover saliva from human skin: The double swab technique. J Forensic Sci 1997; 42(2): 320–322.

Hess S, Haas C. Recovery of Trace DNA on Clothing: A Comparison of Mini-tape Lifting and Three Other Forensic Evidence Collection Techniques. J. Forensic Sci. 2016; 62(1): 187–191.

Hochmeister M, Rudin O, Meier R, Peccioli M, Borer U, Eisenberg A, Nagy R, Dirnhofer R. A foldable cardboard box for drying and storage of by cotton swab collected biological samples. Arch Kriminol. 1997; 200(3–4): 113–120.

Benschop CCG, Wiebosch DC, Kloosterman AD, Sijen T. Post-Coital Vaginal Sampling with Nylon Flocked Swabs Improves DNA Typing. Forensic Sci. Int. Genet. 2010; 4, 115–121.

Comte J, Baechler S, Gervaix J, Lock E, Milon MP, Delemont O, Castella V. Touch DNA Collection –Performance of Four Different Swabs. Forensic Sci. Int. Genet. 2019; 43: 102113.

Giovanelli A, Grazinoli Garrido R, Rocha A, Hessab T. Touch DNA Recovery from Vehicle Surfaces Using Different Swabs. J. Forensic Sci. 2022; 67: 707–711.

Sewell J, Quinones I, Ames C, Multaney B, Curtis S, Seeboruth H, Moore S, Daniel B. Recovery of DNA and Fingerprints from Touched Documents. Forensic Sci. Int. Genet. 2008; 2: 281–285.

Pang BCM, Cheung BKK. Double swab technique for collecting touched evidence. Leg Med (Tokyo). 2007; 9: 181–184.

Verdon TJ, Mitchell RJ, van Oorschot RA. Evaluation of tapelifting as a collection method for touch DNA. Forensic Sci Int Genet. 2014 Jan; 8(1): 179–186.

Kanokwongnuwut P, Martin B, Taylor D, Kirkbride KP, Linacre A. How Many Cells Are Required for Successful DNA Profiling? Forensic Sci. Int. Genet. 2021; 51, 102453.

Hansson O, Finnebraaten M, Heitmann IK, Ramse M, Bouzga M. Trace DNA collection-Performance of minitape and three different swabs. Forensic Sci Int Genet. 2009; 2(1): 189–190.

Farash K, Hanson EK, Ballantyne J. Single source DNA profile recovery from single cells isolated from skin and fabric from touch DNA mixtures in mock physical assaults. Sci Justice. 2018; 58(3): 191–199.

Brownlow RJ, Dagnall KE, Ames CE. A Comparison of DNA Collection and Retrieval from Two Swab Types (Cotton and Nylon Flocked Swab) when Processed Using Three QIAGEN Extraction Methods. J. Forensic Sci. 2012; 57(3): 713–717.

Van Oorschot RAH, Glavich G, Mitchell RJ. Persistence of DNA deposited by the original user on objects after subsequent use by a second person. Forensic Sci Int Genet. 2014; 8(1): 219–225.

Linacre A, Pekarek V, Swaran YC, Tobe SS. Generation of DNA profiles from fabrics without DNA extraction. Forensic Sci Int Genet. 2010; 4: 137–141.

Barash M, Reshef A, Brauner P. The Use of Adhesive Tape for Recovery of DNA from Crime Scene Items. J. Forensic Sci. 2010; 55(4): 1058–1064.

van Oorschot RAH, Meakin GE, Kokshoorn B, Goray M, Szkuta B. DNA Transfer in Forensic Science: Recent Progress towards Meeting Challenges. Genes (Basel). 2021 Nov 7; 12(11): 1766.

Zoppis S, Muciaccia B, D’Alessio A, Ziparo E, Vecchiotti C, Filippini A, DNA fingerprinting secondary transfer from different skin areas: morphological and genetic studies. Forensic Sci Int Genet. 2014; 11: 137–143.

Lorente M, Entrala C, Lorente J, Alvarez JC, Villanueva E, Budowle B. Dandruff as a potential source of DNA in forensic casework., J. Forensic Sci. 1998; 43: 901–902.

Magee AM, Breathnach M, Doak S, Thornton F, Noone C, McKenna LG. Wearer and Non-Wearer DNA on the Collars and Cuffs of Upper Garments of Worn Clothing. Forensic Sci. Int. Genet. 2018; 34: 152–161.

Ruan T, Barash M, Gunn P, Bruce D. Investigation of DNA transfer onto clothing during regular daily activities. Int J Legal Med. 2018 Jul; 132(4): 1035–1042.

Information

Information: Archives of Forensic Medicine and Criminology, 2022, Vol. 72 (3), pp. 138 - 146

Article type: Original article

Titles:

English:

Recovery techniques for contact DNA traces

Polish:

Techniki odzyskiwania śladów kontaktowych DNA

Authors

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1100-9188

Agnieszka Gołaszewska
Medical University of Białystok
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1100-9188 Orcid
All publications →

Medical University of Białystok

Published at: 03.2023

Received at: 07.11.2022

Accepted at: 13.01.2023

Article status: Open

Licence: CC-BY-NC-SA  licence icon

Percentage share of authors:

Agnieszka Gołaszewska (Author) - 100%

Article corrections:

-

Publication languages:

English

View count: 524

Number of downloads: 442

<p>Recovery techniques for contact DNA traces</p>

Suggested citations: Nature

Gołaszewska, A. Recovery techniques for contact DNA traces. Archives of Forensic Medicine and Criminology 2022, 138-146 (2023)